A disturbing video has emerged showing Nazi troops forcing an Alsatian dog to smoke a pipe while dressed in glasses and a party hat during the occupation of the Netherlands in World War Two.
The eight-minute clip, described by researchers as exceptionally rare, provides a chilling glimpse into the activities of SS soldiers at a hotel in Alkmaar, north of Amsterdam.
Shocking discovery in rusty tin
The footage was discovered in a rusty old tin that was anonymously donated to local authorities. Researchers who examined the reel believe it was filmed during the winter of 1941-42 at the former Hotel Proot in Alkmaar, where a clothing store now stands.
Harco Gijsbers of the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Amsterdam expressed his astonishment at the content, stating he had never encountered anything similar throughout his extensive career.
The video shows soldiers from the notorious SS enjoying themselves at the dog's expense, with the Alsatian believed to have served as a mascot for their military unit.
Dutch collaboration evidence
What makes this footage particularly significant is its rarity - most evidence showing Dutch collaboration with Nazi occupiers was systematically destroyed after the war ended.
Jesse van Dijl of the Regional Archives explained that collaboration with German forces wasn't uncommon during the occupation period. "For many people, it was a way to get through the difficult times," he noted.
Van Dijl emphasised the uniqueness of moving images from such situations, stating: "Photos of these kinds of situations aren't unique, but moving images are."
The footage also shows Nazi soldiers and officials socialising with hotel staff, indicating the establishment's cooperation with occupying forces.
Painful legacy and identification efforts
Authorities continue efforts to identify the Nazi officials visible in the eight-minute clip. Lip readers have examined the footage but were unable to decipher any meaningful content from the scenes.
The hotel frequently hosted Nazi meetings and served as a dining venue for Anton Mussert, leader of the National Socialist Movement (NSB). Movie nights were also held at the establishment, with researchers noting the owner was "quite pro-German."
Relatives of the former hotel owner have viewed the footage and found it both painful and moving. Van Dijl reported: "They've come to know their grandfather, who received a heavy sentence after the war, as a kind man. But they also recognise that the historical footage is special."
The film was part of a larger legacy left to the woman who donated it, who had no opportunity to view the contents beforehand and was unaware of what the tin contained.
Researchers hope members of the public might come forward with information that could help identify individuals in the footage and provide further context about the events depicted.
